Glenn Simpson

Online Advocacy and Development Manager

Glenn helps manage the online tools that contribute to the dialogue among Public Citizen, its members, and the public and that foster engagement in Public Citizen’s work. Before joining the Public Citizen team in June 2009, Glenn served as Communications Associate at Workplace Fairness, shift manager at Cole Hardware, Associate Editor at the Alternative Press Center, apprentice press and bindery operator at Workers Action Press, and in many other positions. He is a lifelong radical, who frequently cut class in high school in the mid-‘80s to attend anti-Apartheid and no-nukes rallies in Washington, D.C., while his friends cut class to smoke marijuana at the lake. His other interests include bicycle commuting, record collecting, Scrabble, Ultimate (though he is more or less retired), and the Washington Capitals, as well as several musical genres as represented by Black Sabbath, Dinosaur Jr, Fred Eaglesmith, Fu Manchu, Joan Jett, Journey, The Meads Of Asphodel, Motörhead, Otis Redding, Seam, Slough Feg, Stiff Little Fingers, and Thin Lizzy.

Public Citizen, Inc. and Public Citizen Foundation

Together, two separate corporate entities called Public Citizen, Inc. and Public Citizen Foundation, Inc., form Public Citizen. Both entities are part of the same overall organization, and this Web site refers to the two organizations collectively as Public Citizen.

Although the work of the two components overlaps, some activities are done by one component and not the other. The primary distinction is with respect to lobbying activity. Public Citizen, Inc., an IRS § 501(c)(4) entity, lobbies Congress to advance Public Citizen’s mission of protecting public health and safety, advancing government transparency, and urging corporate accountability. Public Citizen Foundation, however, is an IRS § 501(c)(3) organization. Accordingly, its ability to engage in lobbying is limited by federal law, but it may receive donations that are tax-deductible by the contributor. Public Citizen Inc. does most of the lobbying activity discussed on the Public Citizen Web site. Public Citizen Foundation performs most of the litigation and education activities discussed on the Web site.

You may make a contribution to Public Citizen, Inc., Public Citizen Foundation, or both. Contributions to both organizations are used to support our public interest work. However, each Public Citizen component will use only the funds contributed directly to it to carry out the activities it conducts as part of Public Citizen’s mission. Only gifts to the Foundation are tax-deductible. Individuals who want to join Public Citizen should make a contribution to Public Citizen, Inc., which will not be tax deductible.

To become a member of Public Citizen, click here. To become a member and make an additional tax-deductible donation to Public Citizen Foundation, click here.